The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-16
STORIES TOLD BY SURGEONS
Two Narratives in Which the Romantic
and the Practical Play Their Parts.
The Present Outlook Indicates That There
Will Be No Contest for Officers Of the House
Except in the Case Of Door-Keeper.
SURGEONS, STORIES.

SURGEONS STORIES.
A Rom antic Tinge in the First, While Zach
Chandler Figures in the Second
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Oct Eff the medical corps
of the army should give their "reminiscences OF
the war they could add great many interesting
stories to the incidents of the internecine strife
which make such popular reading to-day" said
an ex-army surgeon now connected with one Of
the departments in Washington. In 1863 was
the acting assistant surgeon of the Eighteenth
Pennsylvania Cavalry. We crossed the Potomac
at Raccoon Forks in July of that year, and
marched to Frederick. where the command was
changed. General Hooker succeeding General
Meade at the head of the division, and General
Stahel was made commandanto of cavalry in place
of General Pleasonton. On Sunday, July 2,
the First Brigade was engaged in q small fight at
Littlestown. and following that we had another
little fury at Red Mills. Then came
the battle of Gettysburg I was detailed to take
charge of the hospital at Hanover. which was
few miles away from the field. and two or three
days after the fight poor fellow was brought in
who had been found in a wheat field shot all to
pieces He had laid in the broiling sun for three
days without food or shelter Of any kind, and he
was in horrible condition. The flies had been
so thick around him that he was filled with
maggots, and his seemed a hopeless one
from the moment we laid eyes upon him. but
everything was done to ease his dying hours and
to make him comfortable as he passed out of the
world. Turpentine was freely injected into the
wound for the purpose OF killing the maggots.
and, after he had been thoroughly cIeansed, he
was given diet of beef-tea and brandy. twas
generally conceded, however, that
his case was hopeless, and I'M
Har fha 6irery ~ ia 81
surgeon a large dose Of morphine was admins
tered in order that he might pass away with as
little consciousness of pain as possible. But
forty eight hours afterwards he still lived and
did not seem at all inclined to quit just then
young lady from Hanover who had been help
ing around the hospital, asked if there were any
special cases of which she might take charge.
She was told that there were, and was assigned
to look after this poor fellow. She did her work
SO we'll that shortly after he able to be re-
moved from the field hospital to better one.
Here he continued to improve and shortly after
entirely recovered. This mans Nc
Even, and he had been private in Missouri
regiment When discharged convaescent he
at once married the young lady who had done so
much towards saving his life. and soon after
wards returned to his command. where he rap
idly rose in rank and was finally mustered out
as captain"
'By the way" continued the DOCTOR "there
was another interesting case which came under
my observation, but which has not quite SO
much romance in it. At the battle of Billiards.
DAM seven miles below Falmouth, Lieut. w.
G. Weeks. of the Fifth Michigan Cavalry, re-
ceived shot-wound in the foot which entirely
shattered all the anterior bones. He was taken
to the rear and attended by Dr. Wooster, of the
~
Fifth New York. These surgeons at once an
nounced that his entire foot would have to be
amputated. but Weeks declined to allow the op-
Grafton to be performed until he had seen the
surgeon of his regiment. DR.. Arthur L. ST.
Clair, in whom he had the utmost confids nce.
AS soon as it could be done St. Clair examined
the foot and decided that portion of it could be
saved 1t was late at night but improvsed
surgeons table was prepared and number OF
tallow-dips were lighted, in order that the oper
seror bones of 'u the al fo s"' and and
brought down the astraleus. or heel bono, SO
that it was directly under instead of behind the
extremely of the leg. From this bono re-
moved the articulating surface. and, bringing a
flap of flesh around, finished what is known
the Pirogoff operation. This was the first and
only time that the operation was performed dur
ing the The field hospital was not a very
convenient place for man to recover from such
wound as this had been, and Weeks was sent
Oh to Washinton, where he assigned quar-
ters in the hospital in Armory square. Hero the
attending surgeons examined him and decided
that. inasmuch as there great danger of
blood poisining and little hope of saving even
portion of the foot he must submit to an ampu-
tation of the lower portion OF his leg. Weeks
absolutely refused to have this done He said
that DR.. ST. Clair had told him that with proper
are he might recover and he believed in ST. Clair
more than In any other surg con in tho army.
This dgusted the surgeons. who had little time
for sympathy in those days, and Weeks was al
lowed to remain with very little attention. He
laid there for some weeks growing constantly
worse and almost neglected, until one day Senator
Zach Chandler visited the hospital looking for
Michigan men. Weeks heard his voice as he
passed through the wards and shouted to Chand-
Ter that he was Michigan man, and that if he
did not receive attention he would surely die.
Chandler responded in his characteristic style:
by -, if there is any care and attention this
side of - that Michigan wants. he shall
have it," and he was good his word. Un-
der the patronage of the Senator. Weeks ling
cred along for some time, suffering greatly from
blood poisoning and from malarial compica-
tions but finally he recovered aud was dis
charged. When last heard from hs was living
in Allegan and wore artificial foot, upon
which he was able to get around very nicely"